Comments Due: January 9, 2023
Reply Comments Due: February 6, 2023
On December 20, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the due dates for comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to modify or eliminate several Video Relay Service (VRS) rules. The rule changes would:
- Increase from 50% to 80% the portion of monthly VRS minutes that may be handled by communications assistants (CAs) working from home;
- Eliminate or modify the requirement that to work at home, a VRS CA must have at least three years of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting experience;
- Allow VRS providers to use contract CAs for up to 30% of their monthly call minutes; and,
- Allow Interstate TRS Fund compensation of calls placed by registered VRS users to the United States from outside the country, for up to one year after leaving the country, as long as the users notify their provider of such travel at any time prior to the first such call.
Interested parties may file comments by accessing the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/. All filings must reference CG Docket Nos. 03-123, 10-51, and 13-24. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to the Public Notice Announcing Comment Due Dates:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/comment-dates-proposed-vrs-rules-cas-and-international-calls
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1350A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1350A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1350A1.txt
Links to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-modernizes-vrs-and-ip-cts-rules-proposes-further-improvements
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-51A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-51A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-51A1.txt
General information about VRS is available at www.fcc.gov/vrs. For further information, please contact Bill Wallace, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-2716, or William.Wallace@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).